August 30 I Friday

Psalms 129-131

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  
—James 1:2-3

Daniel’s choice to obey God’s law rather than man’s law came at a cost. These administrators and government officials conspiring against him went and reported to King Darius saying, “Daniel…pays no attention to you.... He still prays three times a day” (Daniel 6:13). Upon hearing this, King Darius was greatly distressed because Daniel had been the faithful one. Although King Darius was determined to rescue Daniel, he could not overturn his own law and Daniel was about to suffer the consequences of King Darius’s poor policy.

King Darius’s last words before Daniel was cast into the lions’ den were, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:16). A stone sealed the mouth of the lions’ den and King Darius spent the night without eating, any entertainment or sleep. At daybreak, King Darius hurried to the lions’ den saying, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king live for ever! My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight” (Daniel 6:20-22). At that moment, King Darius was overjoyed and demanded for the immediate release of Daniel. No wound was found on Daniel because he remained steadfast in his faith.

Are we in a lions’ den facing a trial or a test with our eyes fixed on the lions? We must turn our eyes upon Jesus. No matter what we face, we can discover a joy in the midst of crazy circumstances. Like Daniel, we can “consider it pure joy…whenever [we] face trials of many kinds, because [we] know that the testing of [our] faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that [we] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

When we are in the lions’ den do we remember that there is joy to be found in the test and the trial? The joy is the reality, with an unwavering commitment, that we can have our eyes fixed on the King of kings who is with us in the lions’ den. Despite circumstances that swirl around us, we can be at peace because when we stare at Him, with unveiled faces, and see His glory the things of this world fade away. Smith Wigglesworth, a famous evangelist in England, once said, “Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.” Like Daniel, may we continue to persevere in our faith even when we are in the lions’ den.

Prayer: O Mighty God, I ask that my faith does not falter even when I am placed in the lions’ den because I know You are right there with me. Praise You, God!